Early Retirement

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. workers who have lost their jobs and will take early retirement are eligible for unemployment benefits until at least Feb. 1, a state administrative board has ruled.The decision comes after an earlier ruling that BG&E workers who had their jobs abolished could receive benefits even as they continue to be paid by the utility.BG&E has launched a restructuring program that probably will result in the first layoffs in its 177-year history.As part of the program, BG&E last year offered early retirement to all workers who are at least 50 years old and have 15 years of service with the company.

Executives fretting about labor shortageIt may seem to the average worker that all the good jobs are disappearing. But most executives are worried about the opposite problem -- not enough good, well-trained workers.A survey sponsored by Accountemps, the New York-based temporary services agency, found that nearly three out of four executives at large companies fear a shortage of skilled labor by the year 2000.And some local employers say they are already seeing puzzling labor shortages.Jim Whiteford, a supervisor at Asplundh Tree Expert Co., said he attended a blue-collar job fair held by Dundalk Community College this week to look for backhoe operators.

PLANO, Texas -- Electronic Data Systems Corp. said yesterday that it will take a charge for an early retirement and severance program aimed at trimming thousands of jobs at the second-biggest U.S. computer services company.EDS is offering early retirement to 8,000 U.S. employees, or about 6 percent of its worldwide work force. In addition, it plans to cut an unspecified number of U.S. jobs later this year."We'll try to get those charges written down as quickly as possible," said Reed Byrum, an EDS spokesman.

Commander of the 1st United States Army, Lt. Gen. James Houston Johnson Jr., stationed at Fort Meade, announced yesterday his plans to retire in September."

ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines Inc., US Airways Group Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. said yesterday that more than 15,000 workers offered to leave the companies, reducing the firings the carriers would need to make because of reduced demand caused by the Sept. 11 attacks. More than 10,150 Delta workers applied for early retirement, voluntary leaves and severance programs as the third-largest airline seeks to pare 13,000 jobs, said Cindi Kurczewski, a spokeswoman at the carrier's Atlanta headquarters.

Henry W. Stewart's adult work life tells part of the story of the growth of Baltimore County government over the last 25 years. It's a not uncommon story of how an ordinary county worker's idea has grown over time into a large program that most people now take for granted.And, as Stewart prepares to retire from work-release supervision next month under the terms of an early-retirement incentive program, county government seems to be entering a less expansive phase of its history.In July 1967, fresh out of Loyola College and starting law school at the University of Baltimore, 21-year-old Henry Stewart landed a $5,700-a-year job handling child support collections for the county Circuit Court.

Item: Gov. William Donald Schaefer distributes extra millions for school repair and construction to districts whose legislators helped him out of the state's recent budget impasse.Item: Because so many Baltimore County teachers have already signed up for an early retirement program, everyone leaving will get a bonus equal to 20 percent of his or her yearly salary, and maybe more because it appears others will join in before the deadline this month.Two disparate facts in the news -- but with a common thread.

Bid for Indiana utility withdrawnA months-long battle for control of Indiana's largest electric utility ended with IPALCO Enterprises Inc.'s withdrawal of its $1.7 billion bid for PSI Resources Inc.IPALCO said yesterday that it failed to secure the proxy votes needed to elect a slate of candidates to the PSI board. The decision clears the way for PSI to continue its planned friendly merger with Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co.Delta offers early retirementDelta Air Lines, in the latest of several moves to rebound from a prolonged financial slump, said it was offering early retirement to 3,000 employees.

Senate vote kills Viacom planThe U.S. Senate approved by a voice vote yesterday legislation that effectively kills Viacom Inc.'s plans to sell its cable television systems to a black businessman for $2.3 billion.Viacom has said it won't proceed with the cable sale to investor Frank Washington if Congress terminates a Federal Communications Commission program that provides tax breaks to firms that sell media properties to minority buyers. With the FCC certificate, Viacom would receive a tax break estimated between $440 million and $640 million.

More than 400 Baltimore County employees -- nearly half those eligible -- have taken advantage of an early retirement program designed to save money by paring as many long-term, highly paid workers as possible.The retirement program that ended Jan. 31 was accepted by 5 percent of the county's work force of 8,000 -- or 403 of the 875 people eligible -- leaving some gaping holes in the bureaucracy, said James R. Gibson Jr., the finance director.Among those leaving were the engineer in charge of inspecting buildings and bridges, half the majors on the police force, 94 police officers, 87 firefighters, one-third of the fire chiefs, a host of highway workers and 24 public health nurses, including 12 school nurses.